Punishment or Being Perfected!
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. ~ 1 John 4:18 I have been contemplating this verse a lot lately and really tried to understand and remember that I don't need to fear for I have God's people seem to think that through punishment one builds character which makes us better people. It kinda makes sense... right? That's what we were taught... right? "You are grounded!"... 'Why?'... "Because, you are being punished for...(insert offense)" That is the best way to motivate someone to change... isn't it? I think not! Think about it this way. When you do something wrong and are punished for it... What really motivates you to change? Fear! But not only that... when fear motivates us we focus on what not to do! Rather than teaching us to learn what is right and walk in it, We are being taught to learn what is wrong and attempt to avoid it beca...